HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Navigating Current Mass Tort Litigation

Conference Agenda

Day 1, Wednesday, November 30, 2022

7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast & Registration

Continental Breakfast Sponsored by Physicians Medical Review.

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8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Welcome by Co-Chairs

Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault
Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy, New York
W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston
Vicki J. Maniatis, Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC, New Jersey


9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Litigation Exit Strategies and Ethical Hurdles

• Global vs. Inventory Settlements
• What, if any, Role Does the Court Play?
• Aggregate Settlements: Compliance and Negotiations
• Understanding the Consequences and Nature of an “Aggregate Settlement”/Ethical Rules and Required Disclosures
• Fee Disgorgement For Ethical Violations. Burrow v. Arce
• Drafting Master Settlement Agreements
- Funding, Timing and Establishing Qualified Settlement Funds
- Walk Away Rights, Clawbacks, Substitutions, Notary Requirements and Participation Thresholds
- Appeals, Extraordinary Circumstances Awards And Setting Appropriate Reserves
- Confidentiality/Public Statements/Penalties
- Protocols And Methodology Associated With Allocating Settlement Proceeds
- Addressing Liens And Dealing With The Associated Holdbacks
• Special Master: Function, Role and Why Necessary?

Moderator: Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault

Panelists:
Hon. Glenn A. Norton, Norton Dispute Resolution, LLC, St. Louis
Don M. Downing, Gray Ritter Graham, St. Louis
Michael A. London, Douglas & London, P.C., New York
Scott A. Powell, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton LLP, Birmingham, AL
R. Brent Wisner, Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, Los Angeles
Scott DeNardo, Archer Systems, Bethlehem, PA


9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Mass Tort Update 1.0

• Zantac
• Paraquat
• Elmiron
• Asbestos/Meso
• CPAP
• Infant Formula
• Tepezza
• Amiodarone
• Korlym

Moderator: Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy, New York

Panelists:
Alexandra Walsh, Walsh Law, Washington, DC
Thomas R. Anapol, Anapol Weiss, Philadelphia
Mildred Conroy, The Lanier Law Firm, New York
Timothy Becker, Johnson // Becker, PLLC, St. Paul, MN


10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Refreshment Break

10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Managing the Production, Storage and Analysis of Electronically Stored Data

• Negotiating ESI CMOs
• Predictive Coding V. Search Terms
• Why TAR?
• Why Native Documents Including Word Natives
• De‐Duplication
• Email Thread Suppression
• Proportionality and Fee Shifting Issues

Moderator: Vicki J. Maniatis, Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC, New Jersey

Panelists:
Timothy Becker, Johnson // Becker, PLLC, St. Paul, MN
Evan M. Janush, The Lanier Law Firm, New York
Yvonne M. Flaherty, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Minneapolis
Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick, Motley Rice LLC, Providence, RI
Timothy Becker, Johnson // Becker, PLLC, St. Paul, MN


11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Mass Tort Update 2.0

• Southern Baptist
• AFFF
• PFAS
• Opioids
• Exactech
• Talcum Powder
• Chemical Hair Straightener

Moderator: Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy, New York

Panelists:
Ellen Relkin, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., New York
Joseph H. Saunders, Saunders & Walker PA, Pinellas Park, FL
D. Todd Mathews, Bailey & Glasser LLP, O’Fallon, IL
Troy Rafferty, Levin Papantonio Rafferty, Pensacola, FL
Leigh O’Dell, Beasley Allen Law Firm, Montgomery, AL
Diandra “Fu” Debrosse Zimmermann, DiCello Levitt, Birmingham, AL


12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch with Keynote Speaker - Navigating the Current Mass Tort Litigation

W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston


1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Critical Complex Litigation Issues

• The Selection of MDL Transferee Judges and Venue: What Arguments Resonate?
• Fed/State Coordination: Peacefully Co‐Existing in Parallel Universes
• Early Case Vetting
• Litigation Holds/Spoliation/Sanctions
• Managing Litigation Fatigue

Moderator: W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston

Panelists:
Elizabeth J. Cabraser, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, San Francisco
Alexander Calfo, King & Spalding LLP, Los Angeles
Joseph F. Rice, Motley Rice LLC, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Lana K. Varney, King & Spalding LLP, Austin, TX
Jim Murdica, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Chicago


2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Getting Out Of The Blocks

• Jurisdictional Landscape Following BMS
• Preemption Status
Lone Pine Orders
• Proposed Amendment to Federal Rules Providing Interlocutory Appeals from MDL Judge’s Orders

Moderator: Jayne Conroy, Simmons Hanly Conroy, New York

Panelists:
John K. Sherk, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., San Francisco
Seth A. Katz, Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Hardine, P.C., Phoenix, AZ
Melanie H. Muhlstock, Parker Waichman LLP, New York
Robert T. Dassow, Hovde Dassow + Deets, Indianapolis, IN


3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Refreshment Break

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Mass Tort Update 3.0

• 3M
• Paragard
• Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
• Juul
• Acetaminophen (ASD/ADHD)

Moderator: Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault

Panelists:
Erin K. Copeland, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs, Houston
Rachel Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Los Angeles
Mikal C. Watts, Watts Guerra LLP, San Antonio
Warren Postman, Keller Postman LLC, Washington, DC
Michelle L. Kranz, Zoll & Kranz, LLC, Toledo, OH
Jennifer M. Hoekstra, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC, Pensacola, FL


4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Camp Lejeune

• Legislation Analysis
• The Science, Damages and Defenses
• Attorney Fees
• Venue

Moderator: Richard J. Arsenault, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault

Panelists:
Raymond C. Silverman, Parker Waichman LLP, Port Washington, NY
Mike Morgan, Morgan & Morgan, Orlando, FL
Zina Bash, Keller Postman LLC, Austin, TX


5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Networking Cocktail Reception

Networking Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Western Alliance Bank.

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